Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox appeal 2016. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated. We collected 108 shoeboxes this year. Thank you for your generosity.

Choir Singing for Otley Action for Older People at Pool Methodist Chapel

As in previous years, we are participating in 'Samaritan's Purse' to send as many Christmas shoe boxes as possible for those in need. Thank you to all of you who support this wonderful charity - and to Mrs Worsnop and Mrs Wood for leading the project for our school and ensuring those shoe boxes get sent off in time!

In 2015, the charity collected a staggering 113 boxes from us!

In 2014 we had 100 shoe boxes, lovingly put together by our wonderful pupils and parents, which was a FANTASTIC achievement!

The RGMC was set up to provide recreation facilities for Pool-in-Wharfedale and surrounding areas. In recent years the committee has sought to involve the children of our school in activities which have been designed to enhance the surroundings of the recreation grounds. This is creating a legacy which the children and our community will be able to appreciate in future years.

We have twice been involved in the removal of Himalayan Balsam growing on the banks of the River Wharfe near school and also in planting bulbs by Mill Croft Beck and the cricket field which have been close enough to school for the children to enjoy when in bloom! Our children also had a hand in planting saplings beside the Corn Mill Beck to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

On Tuesday 17th November 2015, we helped the committee by planting Daffodil bulbs along the boundary of the football pitch, in sight of the school.

Children in Need

On Friday 13th November 2015, we supported this wonderful cause by dressing in non-school uniform or as a superhero! We raised a total of £336.35 and all funds will go directly to the charity.

Barnardo's

We are visited annually by the team at Barnardo's who talk to us in assembly about how what they do and how we can help. Many of our children have Barnardo's money boxes, the contents of which contribute towards this wonderful charity.

'A Harvest Welcome'

During the afternoon of Monday 12th October 2015, parents and friends of Pool were invited to join us in a wonderful afternoon of Harvest celebrations, where each class performed songs, poems and plays. Afterwards, parents were invited to spend time in their child's class, sharing work and informally chatting to the teachers.

The following day, Y6 upheld the tradition of delivering parcels of Harvest goodies for senior members of our community to enjoy!

'Silent Night Service to support Tearfund'

‘It was a beautiful moonlit night, frost on the ground, white almost everywhere... There was a lot of commotion in the German trenches and then there were those lights... And then they sang Stille Nacht – Silent Night. I shall never forget it.’

This is written by British soldier Albert Moren. He was in the WW1 trenches the night of the 1914 Christmas truce, when British and German troops stopped fighting to sing and play football together. The truce was a moment of peace, reconciliation and beauty amid devastating conflict, and is the inspiration for 'Silent Night Carol Services'.

On Tuesday 9th December 2014, our KS2 pupils, staff and parents came together in a Silent Night Carol Service to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War 1, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Prince of Peace, and to bring hope to people affected by conflict today.

At this service we took a Christmas offering for 'Tearfund' and we were delighted and touched by parents' generosity, as we raised just under£212.00! At the FS/KS1 Nativity, another £53 was raised, making a grand total of £265.00! Every penny will help bring hope and healing to those living through terrible conflict and disaster this Christmas. A gift of £20 could pay for a week of schooling and trauma care for a Syrian child.